Abissinia by Samuel Johnson, seek to capture the nature of the ideal world as well as the

essence of human nature. Both works are satirical in temper, and take a rather grim look

at the human condition exists, as well as the attributes that compose it. Neither author is

praising human nature, rather both novels conclude similarly that the perfect world is

simply unattainable and completely out of the grasp of human reach.

Swift and Johnson both present their own idea of what the ideal world is. Yet

despite several similarities, the novels on a whole greatly differ. Swift presents the

society of the Houyhnhnms, a super intelligent race of horses, as that of achieved

perfection. In fact, the word Houyhnhnm means “perfection of nature,” showing that

these creatures are the apex of evolution in the mind of Swift. The Houyhnhnms are

governed by pure reason and are free from the temporal vices that mar the face of

mankind. The reason that they subscribe to “strikes you with immediate conviction; as it

must needs do when it is not mingled, obscured, or discoloured by passion or interest.”

he cannot be content to live at home with his family; rather he jumps at the first

another. Johnson also condemns the human affinity to money. An example of this is

perfect. All the needs of its inhabitants are accounted for, and all the their vices satisfied.

name is very similar to restless, leaves the happy valley, a place of perfection, because he

if I could have learned when I was happy.” So he, like Rasselas, leaves contentment,

states that he wants to the see the world and implies that all of his exploits would end in

to it, Swift does not feel that humans could ever build an even remotely positive society,

Johnson’s perfect world is that of the valley of Abissinia. The happy valley is

Some common words found in the essay are:
Actually Houyhnhnms, Gulliver’s Master, Houyhnhnms’ Yahoos, Choice Life, Adam Smith, Samuel Johnson, Swift Johnson, Gulliver England, Swift Houyhnhnms, Swift Reason, human condition, happy valley, choice life, absolute reason johnson, humans accept, reason johnson, human nature, ideal world, baseless optimism, absolute reason, pure reason,
Approximate Word count = 1080
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)